Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-05-18
UNITED.

The blue waters Of the ShopScot ripplsd
and flashed in the August sunshine as IL
swept on. winding ia and out among the
shattered islands I'LL it reached the
broader eNpanse hevund On one Of these
islands. and hardly more than II stone S
throw from the river, stood an old square
house
On this Sultry August afternoon as he
day wore ON the SKY darkeued, distant
tGunders sounded warningly now and then,
till with the twilight the breezs. Eruwn IL
. sudden gale, dashed the large ram 3vuV>
against the Windows OF the u.a house
which Mrs. NARROW WAS hurry.us sf.OuI
To close.
Well, 7 declare father" she said.
coming down stairs quite ont ~ br-ath,
''how il does RAIN who'd Thought +; " hen
twas 50 pleasant this ufiernuDn,'
Capt NARROW rubbed the bald spot on
his head reiiectively as he returned,
Does pour, that's a fact"
A little later binding flash, accom-
panied 10y crash Of thunder heaV ier than
any preceding. caused Mrs. NARROW To
start up from her chair
Mercy she exclaimed Il pity any
poor creature that has 10 be out i'll this -"
The storm continued with little abate-
ment. just a. one peal of thunder died
away an indistinct sound reached the ears
of the two people in the long kitchen.
They regarded each other queStioningly
for moment; then there was rattle of
the door latch Some one outside was
gropng for il in the darkness
The man started up. and going 10 the
door threw il wide open TO the storm, but
he stepped hack as he did 81. for there on
the door stone stood q figure strange 10
him. The next munlent his hospitality
oyercame every other feeling, and reach
ing out he said, Whoever ye are, come
in"
Mrs NARROW was by his side and gaZ-
ing in amsZement at the slight, white
robed figure. it was a young girl they
had never seen before. There was a fright
ened, appealing look in the brown eyes.
The wind and rain had beaten upon her
head till the dark. curling hair was
drenched and clinging about her neck.
Mr. Marlow's mutherly arms stretched
cut instinctively Poor childr' she said,
drawing her into the room; why, father,
she'is wet through and through
II was quite true. The wafer drpped
from the dainty white dress and made lit
tie pools upon the floor She wore no
wrap OF any kind As Yet she had not
spoken, but stood looking wonderingly
about the room
Where did you come from, Are you
alone" Mrs. NARROW asked, and the girl
answered with a shudder, YES, I'm
alone
Dear, dear. poor child, Let me get
you something warm"
Capt NARROW set about making fire
in the cook stove, while his wife took the
h. l. y
all beat ont, the good woman said pity
ingiy. You'd better 90 right TO bed
The girl made no remoustrance, but sub
mitted quite passively to whatever was
proposed She took the warm drink Mrs
NARROW brought her and when the wo-
man went back TO the kitchen she said
Il declare, father. the poor thing is COM
pletely beat out; she's asleep already"
Anxious days followed. while the
stranger tossed in the delirium of fever,
and Mrs. NARROW cared for her as tender
~ as if she had been her own. Poor
child, she said, tears coming into her
eyes as she spoke, 1t makes my heart
ache 10 think she is away from all she
loves
There was no clew to the girls former
life, no one on the island knew anything
about her, and all inquiries otherwhere
brought no knowledge. Mrs. NARROW
searched the girl clothing, but Ouly one
word was found, aud one day she slipped
a ring off from the waited hand and looked
for some inscription; there was only the
word she had found before, the name
Kathleen
The sufferer spoke often, but though
Mrs. NARROW StrUVe 10 catch any words
that might lead 10 the discovery Of who
she was there WAS but little that was in-
telligihle
Sometimes she seemed 10 be wandering
through some wood, and said that the
pine needles made a soft carpet, at others
she fancied herself on the water, and said
she was 80 tired rowing against the stream
Once or twice she spoke the name of
Everett, but that was all.
Poor child"' sighed the good woman.
''When she gets well she will tell Us, and
We will take her home
But there were days when il seemed
that there was little reason 10 expect
her recovery, yet the crisis passed and she
still lived. Very white and weak she
WAS, her brown eyes looking unnaturaliy
large, then a faint color came into the
face that grew rounded every day. Mrs.
MARROW forbore asking any questions as
Kathleen asked her none, but she was
growing stronger, she would speak by
and by.
Yes, she was growing stronger Still
the doctor looked grave and continued his
visits after she was able 10 walk about.
But as time went on there was no
change She answered TO the name Of
Kathleen and called Capt. and Mrs.
NARROW father and mother. As she heard
them call each other. She seemed quite
happy roaming about the island only
when any mention was made of going on
the water "A troubled look came into her
face No. " She always said. Il would
rather not. so they did not urge her.
She was hardly'2U, Mrs. NARROW thought,
of a slight, little iignre and carelessly
graceful rs a child. Her complexion WAS
Of a creamy, almost transparent white
ness the crimson showing only in her
cheeks and lips.
The fall. winter and early spring passed
uneveutfully away: then there came a
time when the old house was in an I'M
usual state Of commotion and expectancy.
Capt. Marluw'S son Robert was coming
home He would be here soon now; he
had been in South America, and it was
more than year ago that he had gone
away. Mrs. NARROW speculated a. 10
how his coming would affect Kathleen,
who seemed a. joyfully eager TO prepare
for him as she did herself. But when he
csme the bread shouldered captain of the
Highiyer was far more affected than was
Kathleen.
II was Robert who f1rst induced her 10
step iptO boat. She seemed ashamed of
her fears, tut her face was very pale as
they took the first sail down the river to-
gether As the time went on she grew
accustomed 10 the water and came TO en-
i1.r Nm r,-Erl tnn Aails the fMn tnnl